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TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Hiotographic 

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23  WIST  MAIN  STRiiT 

WiBSTIR,N.Y.  USSO 

(716)  •72-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Instituta  for  Historical  Microraproductiont  /  Institut  Canadian  da  microraproductiont  historiquas 


"■^^      -■<«»sw^.»V»' 


Tschnical  and  Bibliographic  Notaa/Notaa  tachniquas  at  bibliographiquaa 


Tha  Inatituta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographlcally  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction.  or  which  may  significantly  changa 
tha  usual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


HColourad  covars/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


I     I   Covars  damagad/ 


D 


D 


□ 


D 


D 


Couvartura  andommagte 


Covars  rastorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  rastaurAa  at/ou  palliculAa 


I      I   Covar  titia  missing/ 


Le  titre  da  couvartura  manque 


□   Coloured  maps/ 
Cartes  gAographiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I   Coloured  plates  and/or  illuatrationa/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
ReliA  avac  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrie  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intArieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  poaaibia,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouttes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais.  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6tA  filmAes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  8uppl6mentaires; 


L'Inatitut  a  microfilm*  le  meilleur  eKemplaira 
qu'il  lui  a  At*  possible  de  se  procurer.  Las  ditails 
de  cat  exemplaira  qui  aont  paut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographiqua,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  raproduita,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mAthode  normale  de  filmaga 
aont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


r~1   Coloured  pages/ 


D 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


Pagea  de  couleur 

Pagea  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagAes 

Pages  restored  and/o: 

Pages  restaurAes  at/ou  palliculAes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxei 
Pages  dAcolorAes,  tachetAes  ou  piquAes 

Pagea  detached/ 
Pages  dAtachAes 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prin 

QualitA  inAgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  matAriel  supplAmentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Adition  diaponible 


r~n  Pagea  damaged/ 

r~|  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

r~l  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I     I  Pagea  detached/ 

r~l  Showthrough/ 

I     I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I     I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I — I  Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
sliptt,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  ref limed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalament  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  AtA  filmAes  A  nouveau  de  fapon  A 
obtanir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

aox 

v/ 

12X 

16X 

aox 

a4x 

28X 

32X 

The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanHs 
to  the  generosity  of; 

Seminary  of  Quebec 
Library 


L'exemplaire  filmA  fut  reproduit  grAce  k  la 
gAnArositA  de: 

Siminaire  de  QuAbec 
Bibliothique 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  b«st  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  spaciflcationa. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  AtA  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin.  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nattat*  de  rexemplaire  film*,  et  en 
eonformiti  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  coplaa  in  printed  paper  eovera  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres* 
sion.  01  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  imprea* 
sion.  and  ending  on  the  laat  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exempleires  origineux  dont  le  couverture  en 
papier  eat  imprimte  sont  filmts  en  comment  ant 
par  la  premier  plat  et  en  terminent  soit  par  la 
derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impresaion  ou  d'illustration.  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  aeion  le  caa.  Tous  les  autres  exempleires 
originaux  sont  film4s  en  commen^ant  par  la 
premiire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impresaion  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminent  par 
ij  derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  freme  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^  (meaning  "CON* 
TINUED").  or  the  symbol  V  (meening  "END"), 
whichever  appliea. 


Un  dea  symboles  suivants  apperaitra  sur  la 
derniAre  imege  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  -^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE".  le 
symbol*  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  platts.  charts,  etc..  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  2h«  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  Xh9  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  Atre 
filmte  i  des  taux  de  reduction  diffiftrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA.  il  est  film*  A  partir 
de  I'angle  supAriour  gauche,  de  gauche  h  droite. 
et  d*  haut  en  baa.  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicessaire.  Lea  diagrammes  suivant« 
iliustrent  la  mAthodo. 


1 

2 

3 

32X 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

0  c^/pf^^a 


,^--*-^'^ 


<fa<.. 


/ 


N^l 


CIRCULAR 


I'HOMIUJATIXCJ    IX    TIIK    DIOCESE   OK   CHATHAM, 


THE  ENCYCLICAL  LETTER 

OF  OUR.HOLY  FATHER  POPE  LEO  XIII, 

AGAINST   AFRICAN    SLAVERY 


A\I>   ORl)ERIX(;    A 


COLLECTION  IN  THE  CHURCHES 

On  the  Feast  of  the  Ei'ifhaxv  Each  Yeah. 


■■41 


^  nie  dd  rUniversiti, 
<^6bec  4;  QUE. 


^^i 


■Jl 


'"ifDtl 


CIRCULAR 

PBOMULOATING  IN  THE  DIOCESE  OF  CHATHAM, 

The  Enctclical  Letter  op  Our  Holy  Father  Pope  Leo  XIII, 
AGAINST  African    Slavery    and  orderino    a    Col- 
lection IN  THE  Churches  on  the  Feast  of  the 
Epiphany  each  year. 

Rev.  and  Dear  Sir: — 

A  few  days  aj?o  we  received  through  our  venerable  Metro- 
'politan,  the  Archbishop  of  Halifax,  the  official  copy  of  an  Eln- 
cyclical  Letter  recently  addressed  by  Our  Holy  Father,  Pope 
Leo  XIII,  to  all  the  Bishops  of  the  Catholic  world,  ordaining 
that  henceforth. in  every  Catholic  Church  on  the  Feast  of  the 
Epiphany  each  year,  a  collection  be  taken  up  from  the  faithful 
to  be  transmitted  to  the  Ordinary,  who  will  duly  forward  it  to  the 
Propaganda,  Rome ;  and  the  committee  appointed  for  that  pur- 
pose by  the  Pope  will  distribute  the  alms  thus  received  among 
the  various  missionaries  in  Africa,  who  ai'e  sent  to  bear  the  light 
of  the  Christian  Religion  to  multitudes  who  are  still  in  pagan 
darkness  and  worse  than  anti-Christian  slavery,  in  that  vast 
continent. 

We  beg  to  send  you  herewith  a  copy  of  the  said  letter,  such 
as  received,  in  Latin,  preceded  by  translations  in  English  and  in 
French,  and  request  that  you  will  read  the  same  (in  the  vemacu- 
.  lar  of  your  people)  on  the  first  Sunday  after  its  reception,  an- 
nouncing at  the  same  time,  that  on  the  following  Sunday  a 
collection  will  be  taken  up  in  that  Church  or  congregation,  for 
the  object  specified,  according  to  the  wishes  of  the  Pope.  This 
collection  will  be  repeated  each  succeeding  year  on  the  Feast  of 
the  Epiphany  or  following  Sunda3\ 

There  is  another  anliual  collection  to  be  taken  up  each  year, 
on  Good  Friday,  in  behalf  of  the  Franciscans  who  are  charged 
with  the  care  of  the  sacred  places  of  pilgrimage  in  the  Holy 
Laud,  which  collection  in  its  totality  as  soon  as  received,  will,  as 
in  the  past,  be  transmitted  by  the  Bishop,  to  the  Rev.  Father, 
Commissiary  of  the  Holy  Land  for  Canada,  (at  present  Father 
Frederic  de  Ghyvelde,  O.  S.  F.,,residing  at  Three  Rivers,  P.  Q.) 

Knowing  as  we  do  the  limited  financial  resources  and  strait- 
ened circumstances  of  our  faithful  people  in  this  young  end 
struggling  Diocese,  where  a  sufficiency  of  Churches,  CTei^, 
religious  schools,  and  institutions,  though  gradually  increasing, 


) 


are  not  yet  sufficiently  numerous  and  well  founded ;  and  also 
knowing  the  noble  spirit  of  generosity  and  piety,  with  which 
they  have  in  the  past  responded  to  every  call  made  upon  them, 
wo  should  feel  loth  to  appeal  to  our  flock  for  contributions  to- 
wards distant  and  outside  objects,  were  it  not  for  the  authorit- 
ative voice  of  the  Sovereign  Pontitf,  who  as  the  fatuer  of  all  the 
faithful,  feels  for  all,  especially  the  most  needy,  and  begs  in  their 
behalf  even  from  those  who  have  but  little,  a  portion  of  that 
little,  to  relieve  and  sustain  their  afflicted  brethren  ;  and  indeed, 
of  all  outside  calls,  the  two  objects  above  specified  justly  claim 
the  consideration  of  all  Christian  people. 

The  sacred  places  in  the  Holy  Land  dear  to  the  hearts  of  all 
christains,  the  places  that  were  sanctified  by  the  presence  of  Our 
Divine  Lord,  where  the  great  mysteries  of  our  religion,,  the  In- ' 
carnation,  Birth,  Death,  and  Resurrection  of  Our  Saviour  took 
place,  where  the  Holy  Qhost  first  descended  upon  the  disciples 
and  first  members  of  the  christian  church,  and  where  so  many 
miracles  and  great  events  in  connection  with  the  establishment 
of  Christianity  occurred — these  holy  places  hkve  ever  been  the 
objects  of  the  christian's  affection,  their  preservation  and  honor- 
able religious  condition,  to  receive  the  visits  of  pious  pilgrims, 
have  ever  been  the  object  of  the  paternal  official  solicitude  of  the 
Pope  in  every  age.  It  was  for  this  that  the  wars  of  the  Cru- 
sa(^  were  indicted  by  Popes,  md  carried  on  bv  christian  kings 
and  people,  against  the  Saracens  who  desecrated  the  holy  places 
and  used  toipsult,  persecute  and  put  to  death  the  christians  who 
undertook  pious  pilgrimages  in  those  cradle  lands  of  their 
holy  religion.  That  whole  country,  Syria,  in  which  are  located 
Jerusalem,  Bethlehem,  Nazareth,  Calvary,  Mount  Olivet,  etc., 
still  continues  to  be  in  the  possession  and  under  the  government 
of  the  Turkish  Sultan.  The  power  and  influence  of  the  chris- 
tain  nations  of  Europe  during  the  past  centuries,  were  not  able 
to  deprive  the  Turkish  empire  of  these  holy  places.  But  their 
diplomatic  relations  with  tne  government  of  the  Sultan  of  Tur- 
key, obtained  certain  permissions  and  priveleges  from  the  Turk- 
ish government,  by  which  religious  communities  of  monks  and 
nuns,  some  under  the  patronage  of  France,  some  under  that  of 
England,  others  under  that  of  Austria,  and  some  schismatical 
Greeks  under  the  patronage  of  Russia,  are  located  adjacent 
to,  and  are  the  guardians  of  these  holv  places  respectively.  So 
that  christian  Snivellers  and  pilgrims  from  the  various  countries 
of  Europe  and  America,  can  now  happily  and  without  molesta- 
tion or  insult  visit  those  sacred  shrines,  and  while  there  receive 
needed  information,  guidance  and  hospitality,  from  the  christian 
religious  families  and  persons  who  are  located  there,  and  who 


s 

ftre  supported  by  the  donations  and  contributions  distributed 
amongst  them  by  the  christian  people  and  nations  who  patronize 
them,  and  without  whose  help  they  could  not  support  themselves 
in  that  now  almos!.  desert  country.  It  is  for  this  object  that  Our 
Holy  Father  has  ordered  the  annual  collection  on  Good  Friday 
to  be  made  for  the  Franciscans  of  the  Holy  Land. 

The  object  of  the  other  annual  collection  to  be  made  on  the 
feast  of  the  Epiphany  for  christianizing  and  delivering  from 
both  spiritual  and  corporal  slavery  and  barbarism,  the  vast  mul- 
titudes of  the  "Dark  Continent,"  to  whom  the  light  of  the  Gos- 
pel has  not  yet  penetrated,  is  a  most  just  and  important  one.  It 
IS  most  appropriate  that  the  Sovereign  Pontiff  wno  in  his  life  is 
realizing  the  prophetic  title  attributed  to  him  "Lumen  in  Coelo," 
should  interest  hin^self  in  the  conversion  to  the  chiistian  faith, 
as  well  as  the  deliverance  from  barbaric  slavery,  of  those  fellow- 
creatures  of  the  interior  of  Africa,  towards  whom  the  civilized 
nations  of  Europe  are  giving  their  attention.  The  explorations 
of  so  many  travellers  recently,  through  the  interior  of 
Africa,  the  wars  waged  by  English  troops  in  Egypt,  among 
whom  were  several  from  our  Canadian  provinces,  the 
trade  and  commercial  relations  opening  up  between  outside 
Christian  peoples  and  the  Africans,  make  opportune  and  favor- 
able the  time  and  means  intended  by  the  Holy  Father  for  hid 
most  laudable  missionary  designs  and  enterprises  in  that  contin- 
ent. Hence  I  trust  this  collection  of  the  Epiphany  for  the  Afri- 
cans will  be  generous  and  duly  sustained. 

I  avail  myself  of  this  occasion  to  announce  that  the  dispen- 
sation from  the  obligations  of  fasting  and  abstinence,  on  account 
of  prevalent  influenza,  proclaimed  to  the  faithful  under  our 
jiinsdiction  in  our  circvm>r  letter  dated  Feb.  27th,  1890,  as 
authorized  by  the  Pope'&  a-cree,  is  hereby  withdrawn ;  and  fur- 
ther that  'the  regulations  fci*  Lent  this  year  will  be  the  same  as 
those  in  existence  m  our  Diocese  during  the  previous  nine  years. 

Given  at  Chatham,  N.  B.,  this  Slst  day  of  December,  1890. 

t«^  AMES  ROGERS,  Bishop  of  Chatham. 


d 


J 


THE  POPE'S  ENCYCUCAL  LETTER. 


Venerable  Brother. 

Health  and  Apostolic  Benediction. 

As  you  have  known,  venerable  Brother,  there  was  scarcely 
anything  dearer  to  the  Church  from  the  be^nning  than  to  see 
the  slavery  which  oppressed  so  many  human  beings  by  its  mis- 
erable yoke  removed  and  entirely  destroyed.  A  careful  cus- 
todian of  the 'doctrine  of  her  Founder, Who  from  His  own  mouth 
and  through  the  voice  of  His  Apostles  had  taught  the  fraternal 
amity  which  unites  all  men,  inasmuch  as  they  have  the  same 
origin,  are  redeemed  at  the  same  price,  and  are  called  to  the  same 
eternal  bliss,  she  took  up  the  neglected  cause  of  the  slaves  and 
stood  forth  a  strenuous  defender  of  liberty,  although  her  action 
was  gradual  and  temperate  in  accordance  as  circumstances  and 
times  required.  That  is  to  say,  she  did  this  with  prudence  and 
discretion,  constantly  demanding  what  she  sought  in  the  name  of 
religion,  justice  and  humanity  ;  by  the  adoption  of  which  course 
shenas  most  admirably  furthered  the  prosperity  of  nations  and 
civil  culture.  Nor  did  this  zeal  of  the  Church  for  setting  slaves 
free  grow  weak  with  the  lapse  of  time ;  nay,  the  more  fruitful  it 
proved,  the  more  ardent  it  oecame.  This  is  most  certainly  at- 
tested by  the  monuments  of  history  which  have  for  that  work 
commended  to  posteri^  many  of  Our  predecessors,  amongst 
whom  are  conspicuous  St.  Gregory  the  Great,  Hadrian  I.,  Alex- 
ander III.,  Innocent  III.,  Gregory  IX.,  Pious  II.,  Leo  X.,  Paul 
IIL,  Urban  VIH.,  Benedict  XIV.,  Pious  VIL,  and  Gregoiy  XVI., 
who  labored  most  earnestly  that  the  system  of  slavery  might  be 
abolished  wherever  it  flourished,  and  that  care  should  be  taken 
to  prevent  it  from  taking  root  again  where  it'had  been  destroyed. 

Such  a  praiseworthy  inheritance  bequeathed  by  Our  pi^e- 
cessors  could  not  be  repudiated  by  Us ;  wherefore  We  have 
omitted  no  occasion  of  openly  reprehending  and  condemning  this 
cruel  plague  of  slavery ;  and  the  opportunity  occurring  We  treat- 
ed of  this  matter  in  the  letter  sent  to  the  Bishops  of  Brazil  on 
the  7th  May,  1888,  in  which  we  congratulated  them  on  what 
had  been  done  in  that  country,  in  a  laudable  manner,  by  private 
individuals  and  by  the  State  for  the  liberty  of  the  slaves,  and  at 
the  same  time  We  showed  how  much  slavery  is  opposed  to  re- 
ligion and  the  dignity  of  man.  When  We  wrote  that  letter  Wa 
were,  indeed,  greatly  moved  by  the  condition  of  those  who  were 
in  servitude  to  others ;  but  We  have  been  much  more  keenly 
affected  by  the  account  of  the  miseries  with  which  all  the  in- 
habitants of  certain  regions  in  the  interior  of  Africa  have  to 


8 

utruggle.  It  is  truly  woful  and  horrible  to  reUt 
loarnfrotn  aure  informants,  nearly  four  hundred  \ 
eans,without  distinction  of  ose  or  sex,  are  every  year  forcibly  torn 
from  their  rural  villafi;e8,  whence,  bound  in  chains  and  oeaten 
with  scourges,  they  are  dragged  a  long  distance  to  the  market- 
places, where  like  cattle  for  sale,  they  are  exhibited  and  disposed 
of.  As  these  things  have  been  attei^ed  by  those  who  have  seen 
thum,  and,  as  the  reports  have  been  confirmed  by  recent  explor- 
ers of  Central  Africa,  We  have  entertained  an  ardent  desire  of 
aiding  those  unfortunate  creatures,  as  far  as  Our  power  will  per- 
mit, and  relieving  their  wretchedness.  Without  delav,  thereu>re, 
We  requested  Our  beloved  son,  Cardinal  Charles  Miurtial  Lavi- 
gerie,  whose  apostolic  energy  and  seal  are  well  known  to  Us,  to 
go  through  the  principal  nations  of  Europe  in  order  that  he 
might  pomt  out  the  ignominy  of  this  most  aigroceful  traffic  and 
induce  rulers  and  states  to  come  to  the  assistance  of  those  afflict- 
ed people.  Wherefore,  We  have  to  thank  Christ  our  Lord,  the 
beloved  Redeemer  of  all  people.  Who  in  His  bounty  has  not  suf- 
fered Our  efforts  to  remain  without  effect,  but  has  willed  that 
ihoy  should  be,  as  it  were  seed  sown  in  fertile  ground,  which 
gives  promise  of  a  satisfactory  crop ;  for  both  the  rulers  of 
states  and  Catholics  throughout  the  world — all,  in  fact,  to  whom 
the  laws  of  nations  and  nature  are  sacred — have  entered  into 
rivalry  to  examine  as  to  the  best  method  and  means  to  be  adopt- 
ed for  the  radical  abolition  of  this  inhuman  traffic.  The  solemn 
congress  held  not  long  since  at  Brussels,  at  which  representa- 
tives of  the  rulers  of  Europe  assembled,  and  the  more  recent 
gathering  of  private  men  who  met  at  Paris  for  the  same  great  pur- 
pose, are  proofs  that  tlie  cause  of  the  African  race  will  be  defend- 
ed with  a  force  and  oonstancyproportionate  to  the  miseries  under 
which  they  are  suffering.  We  are,  therefore,  unwilling  to  let 
pass  the  occasion  of  returning  due  praise  and  thanks  to  the 
rulers  of  Europe  and  other  men  of  good  will,  and  We  earnestly 
pra;^  Qod  to  grant  a  successful  issue  to  their  designs  and  under- 
takings in  such  an  important  work. 

But,  besides  the  anxiety  to  defend  liberty,  another  desire 
touches  more  closely  our  Apostolic  ministry,  which  bids  us  take 
care  to  propasate  in  the  regions  of  Africa  the  Qoepel  doctrine 
by  which  their  inhabitants  sitting,  as  they  are,  in  darkness  and 
sunk  in  blind  superstition,  mav  m  enlightened  with  the  light  of 
DiV^ine  truth  through  which  they  may  become  vrith  Us  sharers 
in  the  inheritance  of  the  Kingdom  of  Qod.  This  object  We 
sought  to  attain  all  the  more  earnestly  because  when  they  have 
received  this  light  they  will  also  shi^e  off  the  yoke  of  human 
slavery ;  for  where  Christian  customs  and  laws  prevail,  where 


li 


retif(iuii  Imm  tAUi^Iit  men  to  olwerve  juntice  and  honour  human 
rlignity,  where  the  Hpirit  of  fraternal  charity  which  Christ 
lireathed  haH  Hpread  far  and  wide,  there  neither  slavety,  nor  a 
Htate  of  Hlaverv,  nor  barbariNin  can  exist;  but  gentleness  of  man' 
ners  and  Christian  liberty  adomo<l  by  civil  culture,  flourish. 
Already  many  Apostolic  men,  pickefl  Christian  soldiers,  as  it 
were,  have  entered  those  regions,  and  there  have  not  merely  ex- 
erted themselves  actively  but  laid  down  their  lives  for  the  sal- 
vation of  their  brethren.  Still  "the  harvest  is  rich,  indeed,  but 
the  labourera  few."  Hence  it  is  necessary  that  as  many  more  as 
rMMsible,  led  by  the  same  spirit  of  Qod,  and  fearing  no  dangers, 
mconveniences,  nor  labours,  should  proceed  to  the  regions  where 
this  shameful  traffic  is  carried  on,  with  the  view  of  carrying  to 
the  inhabitants  the  doctrine  of  Christ  which  is  bound  up  with 
true  liberty.  But  the  undertaking  of  such  a  work  demands  ra- 
sources  commensurate  with  its  extent ;  for  not  without  immense 
expense  can  we  look  forward  to  the  establishment  of  missionary 
institutions,  the  making  of  long  journeys,  the  preparation  of 
houses,  the  raising  and  completion  of  churches,  and  the  carrying 
out  of  other  necessary  requirements  of  this  kind,  which  expense 
must  be  borne  for  some  years  until  the  missionaries  shall  oe  in 
a  position  to  support  themselves  in  the  places  where  they  shall 
have  taken  up  their  residence.  Would  that  we  had  resources 
which  would  enable  us  to  take  upon  oui'selves  this  burden,  but 
since  the  straitness  of  Our  circumstances  stand  in  the  way  o£ 
Our  desires,  with  paternal  voice,  We  address  vou,  Venerable 
Brother,  other  sacred  administrators,  and  all  Catholics,  and  We 
recommend  to  your  and  their  charity  a  work  so  holy  and  salu- 
tary ;  for  We  wish  that  all  should  become  sharers  in  it,  if  only 
by  a  small  contribution,  in  order  that  divided  amongst  many, 
the  burden  may  be  lighter  to  bear  for  each,  and  that  all  may 
abundantly  receive  the  grace  of  Christ  (the  furtherance  of 
Whose  Kingdom  is  in  question)  and  that  by  that  grace  all 
may  obtain  peace,  pardon  of  sin,  and  the  choicest  blessings. 

Wherefore  We  decree  that  each  year,  wherever  the  mysteries 
of  the  Epiphany  of  Our  Lord  are  celebrated,  there  shall  be  held 
on  that  day  a  collection,  as  of  alms,  in  aid  of  the  work  We  have 
described.  And  We  have  chosen  that  solemn  day  above  others 
because,  as  you  well  know,  Venerable  Brother,  on  that  day  the 
Son  of  Qod  revealed  Himself  to  the  nations  when  He  showed 
himself  to  the  Magi,  who  were  therefore  happily  called  by  St. 
Leo  the  Great,  Our  predecessor,  "the  first  fruits  of  our  vocation 
and  Faith."  We  are,  therefore,  buoyed  up  by  the  firm  hope 
that  Christ  Our  Lord,  moved  by  the  charity  and  the  prayers  of 
His  children,  who  have  received  the  light  ox  truth,  will  also  shed 


I'  i 


tho  light  of  HiH  Divine  rflvelatitin  on  this  mont  wreteliod  portion 
of  the  human  race,  ami  will  ruscue  it  from  tho  mire  of  super* 
ntition  and  the  mfvrable  condition  in  which  it  has  m  lung  bcvu 
cast  down  and  neglected. 

We  desire  that  the  money  collected  in  the  chu.ches  and 
chapels  under  your  jurisdiction  nn  the  day  mentioned  be  for- 
warded to  the  Sacred  Congregation  of  Propaganda  at  Rome.  It 
will  be  the  duty  of  that  Congregation  to  distribute  the  money 
amongst  the  missionH  which  exist  or  shall  lie  established  to  abol- 
ish HMkvery  most  effectually  in  Africa.  The  distribution  will 
take  place  this  way  :  the  money  obtained  from  the  nations  which 
have  their  own  Catholic  missions  for  the  redemption  of  the 
slaves,  as  We  have  stated,  will  bo  devoted  to  the  support  and  as- 
sistance of  tho9e  missions.  The  Sacred  Congregation,  to  whom 
the  necessities  of  these  same  missions  are  known,  shall  with  pru- 
dent judgment  distribute  amongst  the  more  needy  the  remain- 
der of  the  contributions. 

We  doubt  not  that  Ood,  who  abr»unds  in  mercy  will  gracious- 
ly answer  the  intentions  We  have  i'ormed  for  the  benetit  of  tho 
unhappy  Africans  and  that  you,  venerable  brother,  will  willing- 
ly exercise  your  zeal  and  lend  your  assistance  so  that  they  may 
be  amply  fulfilled.  We  trust,  moreover,  that  the  temporary  and 
special  aid,  which  the  faithful  will  contribute  for  the  purpose  of 
wiping  out  the  shame  of  this  inhuman  traffic  and  sustaining  the 
ministers  of  the  Qospel  in  the  places  where  it  flourishes,  will  not 
result  in  any  diminution  of  the  liberality  with  which  .they  arc 
wont  to  assist  Catholic  missions  through  the  institution  foun- 
ded at  Lyons  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Faith.  On  that  useful 
work  which  we  have  on  a  former  occasion  commended  to  the 
zeal  of  the  faithful,  We  bestow,  now  that  the  opportunity  oc- 
curs, a  fresh  testimony  of  praise,  desiring  that  it  may  widely  ex- 
tend its  beneiihs,  and  may  enjoy  a  healthy  prosperity.  Mean- 
while, to  you,  venerable  brother,  and  to  the  clergy  and  faithful 
committed  to  your  pastoral  care.  We  most  lovingly  impart  th(i 
.  Apostolic  Benediction. 

Given  at  St.  Peter's,  Rome,  on  the  20th  Nov.,  1890,  the  thir- 
teenth  year  of  Our  Pontificate.  LEO  XIII,  POPE. 


IJi 


8 

LETTRE 

DE  SA  SAINTETe'  LE  PAPE  LEON  XIH 

AUX  EVEQUES  DU   MONDE  CATHOLIQUE 

SUR  L'ABOLITION  DE  L'ESCLAVAGE 


Venerables  Freres, 

Salut  et  benediction  apostolique. 

L'Eglise  catholique,  qui  embrasse  tons  les  hommes  dons  sa 
matemelle  affection,  n'a  eu  dans^  tons  les  temps  rien  de  plus  a 
coeur,  comme  vous  le  savez,  Venerable  FrSre,  que  de  voir  I'es- 
clavage,  lui  faisait  peser  un  ioug  cruel  sur  un  si  grand  nom- 
bre  des  mortels,  ^re  supprime  et  disparaitre  enticement.  Gar- 
dienne  vigilante  de  la  doctrine  de  son  Fondateur,  qui  avait 
enseigne  aux  hommes,  par  lui-meme  et  par  la  voix  des  Ap^res, 
le  lien  fraternal  qui  les  unit  tous,  comme  sortis  de  la  m€tao  ori- 
gine,  rachetes  du  meme  prix,  appel^  au  m^e  bonheur  ^temel, 
elle  prit  en  mains  la  cause  abandonn€e  des  esclaves  et  se  niontra 
le  champion  valliant  de  la  libertcf,  bien  que,  selou  I'exigence  ' 
des  choses  et  des  temps,  elle  agit  graduellement  et  ^vec  mesure. 
Elle  accompiit  en  effet  cette  oeuvre  avec  sagesse  et  maturity,  ne 
cessant  de  poursuivre  son  but  au  nom  de  la  religion,  de  la  jus- 
tice et  de  t'humanit^,  et  elle  merita  ainsi  excellemment  du  pro- 
gres  et  d^  la  civilisation. 

Ce  zele  de  I'E^lise  pour  I'affranchissement  des  esclaves  ne 
s'affaiblit  pas  avec  le  cours  des  ^es ;  au  contraire,  plus  il  obte- 
nait  de  succ^s,  plus  son  ardeur  croissait.  Cela  est  atteste  par  les 
monuments  les  plus  certains  do  I'histoire,  qui  a  recommande  a 
ce  titre  a  la  posterite  nombre  de  Nos  prrfdcS&esseurs,  parmi  les- 
quels  on  distingue  saint  Gregoire  le  Grand,  Adrien  I,  Alexan- 
dre ill.  Innocent  III,  Gregoire  IX,  Pie  II,  Leon  X,  Paul  III, 
Urbain  VIII,  Beiioit  XIV,  Pie  VII,  Gregoire  XVI,  qui  consacr#- 
rent  tous  leurs  efforts  d:  faire  disparaitre  I'institution  de  I'escla- 
vage  de  la  ou  elle  existait,  et  i^  empecher  que,  1&  bu  elle  ^lait 
supprimee,  ses  germes  ne  vinssent  a  roprendre  vie. 

Nous  ne  pouvions  repudier  un  helitage  si  glorieux  transmis 
par  Nos  pr^d^cesseurs ;  c'est  pourquoi  Nous  n'avons  neglige 
aucune  occasion  de  reprouver  publiquement  et  de  condamner 
cet  horrible  fleau  de  I'edclavage  ;  et  nous  avons  traits  avec  soin 
de  cette  question  dans  la  Lettre  que  Nous  avons  adress^,  le  3 
des  nones  de  mai  de  I'ann/e  1888,  aux  ^veques  du  Br^sil,  par 
laquelle  Nous  les  avons  Micites  de  tout  ce  que  les  particuliers 
et  le  pouvoir  avaient  accompli  de  louable  dans  ce  pays  pour  la 


9 

lib^rt^  des  caclaves,  et  Nous  avons  montr^  en  meme  temps  com- 
bien  I'esclavage  est  contraire  ti  la  religion  et  a  la  dignite  hu- 
maine. 

A  la  veVite,  pendant  que  Nous  ecrivions  cette  Lettre.  Nous 
e'tions  vivement  ^niu  de  la  condition  de  ceux  qui  sont  la  pro- 
pri^t^  d'un  autre;  mais  Nous  etions  bien  plus  cruellement 
affccte^par  le  rScit  des  maux  qui  assaillent  tous  les  habitants  de 
certaines  re'gions  de  I'Afrique  intdHeure.  Cast  chose  lamentable 
ajisur^raent  et  horrible  i  rappeler  ce  que  nous  apprennent  des 
te'inoignages  certains,  que  pres  de  quatre  cent  mille  Africains, 
sans  distinction  d'aee  ni  de  sexe,  sont  chaque  ann^e  arrach^ 
par  violeQce  des  villages  qu'ils  habitent  d'ou,  charges  de  chai- 
nes  et  accabld^  de  coups,  lis  sout  traines  par  de  longs  chemins 
sur  des  marches  pour  y  etre  exposes  et  vendus  comme  un  vil 
b^taU. 

Comme  ces  faits  ont  6te  attest&  par  des  t^moins  oculaires  et 
confirmd&  par  les  recents  exploratenrs  de  I'Afrique  equatoriale, 
Nous  avons  ete  enflamme  du  desire  de  secourir  selon  Nos  for- 
ces ces  malheureux  etxie  soulager  leur  infortune.  C'est  pourquoi, 
sans  aucun  retard.  Nous  avons  confie'  a  Notre  chers  Fils  le  car- 
dinal Charles-Martial  Lavigerie,  dont  I'activit^  et  le  zlle  aposto- 
lique  Nous  sont  connus,  le  soin  d'aller  dans  les  principales  villes 
de  I'Europe  pour  faire  ressortir  I'ignoroinie  de  cet  infame  n^goce 
et  pour  incliner  I'esprit  des  Princes  et  des  citoyens  a  preter  as- 
sistance 4  une  race  mal  heureuse. 

« 

A  ce  sujet.  Nous  devons  des  actions  de  grace  au  Christ  Sei- 
gneur, Redempteur  tres  ai  mant  de  tous  les  peuples,  qui  n'a  pas 
permis,  dans  sa  bont^  que  Nos  sollicitudes  fussent  vaines,  mais 
qui  a  voulu  qu'elles  lussent  comme  la  semence  conii^  a  une 
terre  fertile,  promettant  une  joyeuse  moisson.  Car  les  chefs  des 
peuples  et  les  catholiques  du  monde  entier,  tous  ceux  enfin  a 
qui  le  droit  des  gens  et  les  droits  de  la  nature  sont  sacr^s,  ont 
nvalis^  dans  la  recherche  des  meilleurs  moyens  a  employer 
pour  extirper  radicale^nent  ce  commerce  inhumain.  Le  conges 
solennel  t«nu  il  y  a  peu  de  temps  it  Bruxelles,  auquel  ont  pris 
part  les  d^egueS  des  piinces  de  TEurope,  et  Tassembld^  plus 
rdcente  dans  laquelle  des  hommes  priv^  se  sont  r^unis  it  Paris 
dans  le  in^e  but,  teimoignent  ostensiblement  que  la  cause  des 
nd]gres  sera  d^fendue  avec  une  force  et  une  Constance  propor- 
tionnees  &  la  masse  des  maux  qui  les  ecraseni  Cest  pourquoi 
nous  ne  voolons  pas  laisser  ecnapper  Toccauon  qui  soffre  de 
nouveau  de  louer  et  de  remericier  comme  ib  le  meritent  les 
princes  de  I'Europe  et  les  autres  hommes  de  bonne  volonte,  et 
Nous  prions  instamment  le  Dieu  tout-puissant  qn'il  daigne  don- 


I 


10 

ner  le  succes  a  leurs  clesseins  et  aux  comraenceraents  d'nna  si 
grande  entrfeprise. 

Mais,  outre  le  aouci  de  protewer  la  liberty,  une  autre  solicitu- 
de plus  grave  tient  de  plus  pres  a*  Notre  minis^fere  apostolique, 
lequel  ^us  preacrit  de  teiller  rf  ce  que  la  doctrine  evanseliqu^ 
soitpropa^^e  dans  les  regions  de  TAfrique,  afin  qu'elle  illumine 
les  habitants  de  ces  terres  assis  dans  les  te'nebres,  aveugUs  par 
d'epaisses  superstitions,  des  clarteS  de  la  verite'  divine,  qui  les 
rende  participants  avec  nous  de  I'h&ritage  du  royaume  de  Dieu, 
Nous  poursuivons  ce  but  avec  d'autant  plus  d'ardeur  qu'ayant 
re9U  eette  lumiere,  ils  secoueront  aussi  le  j6ug  de  la  servitude 
humaine.  Lsl,  en  effet,  ou  lea  nioeurs  et  les  lois  chr^iennes  sont 
en  vigueur ;  la  ou  la  religion  a  instruit  les  hommes  a  observer 
la  justice  et  i^honorer  la  dignite  humaine;  la  6u  s'est  large- 
ment  repandu  I'esprit  de  la  charit^  fratemelle  que  ^esus-Christ 
nous  a  enseignee,  il  ne  pent  plus  subsister  ni  servitude,  ni  feifo- 
cite,  ni  barbarie  ;  mais  on  voit  fleurir  Tameldite  des  mceurs  et 
la  liberte  chr^tienne  omee  des  biens  de  la  civilisation. 

Deja  plusieui-s  hommes  apostoliques,  comme  des  soldats 
d'avant  garde  de  Jesus-Christ,  ont  aborde  ces  regions  et  y  ont 
repandu  non  seulement  lour  sueur,  mais  aussi  leur  vi^  pour  le 
salut  de  leurs  fr^res.  Mais  la  moiason  est  abondante  etpeu  nom- 
breux  sont  les  iravailleurs ;  c'estpourquoi  il  faut  qiie  d'autres,  en 
grand  nombre,  sous  Faction  du  nrekue  esprit  de  Dieu,  sans  crain^ 
dre  aucun  p^ril,  aucune  difficulte,  aucun  labeur,  s'en  ailknt 
vers  les  regions  ou  s'exerce  ce  honteux  commerce,  pour  porter 
ff  leurs  habitants  la  doctrine  de  Jesus  Chii^t  uuie  a  la  vraic 
libert*^ 

Mais  I'entrejMnse  d'une  si  grande  oeuvre  recliaila6  desressour- 
cds  €|;ales  c(  ses  proportions.  Car  ce  n'est  pas  sans  de  grandes 
de^)€!nses  qu'on  peut  pourvoir  a*  Tetablissement  des  nrissionnaires, 
aux  frais  de  longs  voyages,  a  la  mise  en  etat  des  maisdns,  a  la 
Construction  et  a  romementation  des  e'glises  et  aux  autres  neces- 
site^  du  m^ie  getire ;  toutes  c(s  depenses  devront  ^re  suppw- 
tees  durant  qudques  ann^s,  jusqu'a  ce  que,  dans  les  lieuxoh 
ils  86  seront  Itublii^,  les  predicatours  de  I'Evangile  puissent  se 
sufflre  avec  lettrs  propres  mo^ens. 

Plut  a  Dieu  que  Nos  ressources  f ussent  suffisantes  pour  Nous 
p^rniettre  d'assumer  cette  charge !  Mais,  puisque  I'eta^ae  d^tresse 
ou  Nous  sommes  s'oppose  K  cette  realisation  de  Nos  vcbux,  NoiUs 
vous  adressons  un  appel  paternel,  rf  Vous,  V^nA^bles'Firelfes,  Il 
tons  les  ekutres  eveques  et  i?  tous  les  catholiques,  et  Nous  recom'- 
mandons  a  votre  charite  comme  i  la  leur  une  o6nvre  si  sainteet 
salutaire.  Nous  souhaitons,  en  effet,  qu&tous  y  participenti  fu- 
ce  par  la  plus  l%ere  aumdhe,  aiin  que,  repartie  entre  plus  de 


i,  a  la 
neces- 


il 

ninnde,  la  chai^  soit  plus  facile  a  porter  pour  chacun ;  afin 
aussi  que  la  ^race  de  Jesus  Christ,  dont  il  s'agit  d'elendre  le  r^- 
gne,  se  r^pande  sur  tous  et  qu  a  tous  elle  apporte  la  paix,  le  par* 
don  des  p&ch6s  ct  tous  les  dons  de  choix. 

C'est  pourquoi  nous  Itablissons  que,  chaque  iinnee,  au  jour  et 
dans  tous  les  lieux  oii  Ton  cflebro  la  f^  de  TEpiphanie  du 
Seigneur,  une  qu^  sera  faite  pour  venir  en  aide  &  I'oeuvre  dont 
Nous  venons  de  parler.  Nous  avons  choisi  entre  les  antres,  cette 
solennitrf  parce  que,  comme  vous  le  coinprencz  tr&  bien,  Vefirf- 
rablos  Freres,  c'est  en  ce  jour  que  le  Fils  de  Dieu  s'est  premilre- 
ment  revele  aux  nations  en  se  fcisant  voir  aux  Magis  qui,  a 
cause  de  cela,  ont  ^t^  heureusement  appel^  par  saint  L^on  le 
Grand,  Notre  predecesseur,  les  pr^iices  de  noire  vocation  et  de 
noire  fox.  Aussi  Nous  avons  bon  espoir  que  Notre  Seigneur 
Jesus  Christ,  touche  de  la  charity  et  des  pri^res  de  ses  fils  qui 
ont  recu  la .  lumieVe  de  la  vente,  illuminera  semblablement  par 
la  revelation  de  sa  divinit^  cette  partie  si  malheureuse  du  genre 
humain,  et  qu'il  I'arrachera  au  bourbier  de  superstition  et  2t  la 
condition  miserable  oh,  dans  I'abjection  et  I'abandon,  elle  est 
depuis  si  longtemps  plongee. 

C'est  en  outre  Notre  volonte  que  I'argent  recueilli  au  jour  in- 
diqu^  dans  les  eglises  et  les  chapelles  souuiises  a  votre  juridic- 
tion  soitenvoy^a  Rome,  «k  la  Sacr^-Congregation  de  la  Propa^ 
gande.  C'est  acelle-ci  qu'il  appartiendra  de  partager  ces  oflran- 
des  entre  les  missions  qui  sont  ou  seront  install^  dans  les 
rd^ons  de  I'Af rique  priTicipalemeni  nottr  y  detruire  I'eaclavage  ; 
et  la  rSgle  de  la  repartition  sera  que  i  argent  provenant  de  nations 
ayant  leurs  missions  catholiques  pour  la  liberation  des  esclaves, 
ainsi  que  Nous  I'avons  dit,  soit  applique  «?  soutenir  et  A  aider  ces 
missions.  Quapt  au  restedes  aumShes,  il  sera  distribue  avec  un 
sage  discemement  entre  les  missions  les  plus  pauvres  par  la 
m^e  Sacr^fe-Congr^atioUi  qui  est  au  courant  des ,  besoms  de 
ces  missions. 

Nous  ne  saurions  douter  que  le  Dieu  riche  en  misericoirde 
n'accueille  avec  bon  to  les  voeux  que  Nous  formons  pour  les  mal- 
heureux  Africains,  et  que  vous,  V^n^bles  Freres,  vous  ne  don- 
niez  av<;c  empressement  votre  zele  et  vos  efforts  pour  qu'ils  soient 
pleinement  accomplis.  De  plus,  Nous  avons  confiance  que  ce 
secours  temporaire  et  particulier,  apport^  par  les  fiddles  pour 
faire  disparaitre  la  tSche  d'un  tra£c  inhamain  et  pour  soutenir 
les  messagers  de  I'Evangile  dans  les  lieux  oi!l  ce  trafic  existe, 
n'am^nera  aucune  diminution  dans  la  libdi^it^  avec  laquelle  ils 
ont  ooutume  d'aider  les  missions  catholiques  en  versant  leurs 
otfrandes  a  I'cEUvre  fondee  a  Lyon  sous  le  nom  de  Pro]^ation 
de  la  Foi.    Cette  oeuvre  salutaire,  que  Nous  avons  deja  recom- 


12 

mandee  a*  la  sollicitude  des  fiddles,  aujourd'hui  encore  Nous 
aaisissons  I'occasion  do  I'honorer  par  un  nouvel  eloge,  en  expri- 
mant  le  desir  qu'elle  ^tende  au  loin  sa  bienfaiaance  et  qu'elle 
jouisse  d'une  florissante  et  heureuse  prosp^riteT 

En  attendant  Nous  vous  donnons  tres  affectueuseinent  la 
benediction  apostolique,  a*  vous,  Venerables  Freres,  ainsi  qu'au 
cler^e  et  aux  fiddles  confieS  a*votre  vi^lance  pastorale. 

DonneVRome,  pres  Saint  Pierre,  Te  20  novembre  de  I'ann^e 
1890,  la  treiziline  de  Notre  Pontiiicat.  / 

LEON  XIIi;  PAPE. 


13 

VENERABILIS  FRATER 

SaLVTEM  et  apostoucah  benedictionem 

Catholicae  Ecclesiae,  quae  oinnes  homines  materna  caritate 
complectitur,  nihil  fere  antiquius  fuit  inde  ab  initio,  ceu  nosti, 
Venerabilis  Frater,  quani  ut  servibutem,  quae  uiisero  jugo  prein- 
ebat  mortalium  quamplurimos,  sublatam  cernerct  penitusque  dele- 
taiD.  Sedula  enim  custos  doctrinae  Condi toris  sui,  qui  per  se 
Ipsum  et  Apostolorum  voce  docuerat  homines  f ratemam  neces- 
situdinem  quae  jungit  universes,  utpote  eadem  origine  cretas, 
eodem  pretio  redemptos,  ad  eaindem  vocatos  beatitatem  aeter- 
nam,  suscepit  neglectam  servorum  causam  ac  strenua  vindex 
libertatis  extitit,  etsi,  prout  res  et  tempora  ferebant,  sensiiu  rem 
gereret  ac  temperate.  Scilicet  id  praestitit  prudentia  et  consilio 
coustanter  postulans  quod  intendebat  religionis,  justitiae  et 
humanitatis  nomine  ;  quo  facto  de  nationum  prosperitate  cultuque 
civili  meruit  optime. — Neque  aetatis  decursu  hoc  Ecclesiae  studi- 
um  adserendi  mancipia  in  libertatem  elanguit ;  imo  quo  fructuo- 
sius  erat  in  dies,  eo  flagrabat  irapensius.  Quod  certissima  tes- 
tantur  monumenta  historiae,  quae  eo  nomine  plures  commen* 
davit  posteritati  Decessores  Nostros,  quos  inter  praestant  S. 
Gregorius  Magnus,  Hadrianus  I,  Alexander  III,  Innocentius  III, 
Gregorius  IX,  Pius  II,  Leo  X,  Paulus  III,  Urbanus  VIII,  Bene- 
dictus  XIV,  Pius  VII,  Gregorius  XVI,  qui  omnem  curam  et 
operam  contulere,  ut  servitutis  institutio,  ubi  vigebat,  excideret, 
et  caveretur  ne  unde  exsecta  fuerat,  ibi  ejus  germina  re- 
viviscerent 

Tantae  laudis  hereditas  a  Praedecessoribus  tradita  repudiari 
a  Nobis  non  poterat :  quare  nulla  praetermissa  a  Nobis  occasio 
est,  improl^ndi  palam  damnandique  tetricam  banc  servitutis 
pestem ;  ac  data  opera  de  ea  re  in  htteris  egimus,  quas  III  Nonas 
Maias  anno  moccclxxxyiii  ad  Episcopos  BrasUiae  dedimus, 
quibus  gratulati  sumus  de  iis,  quae  pro  mancipiorum  libertate  in 
ea  regione  gesta  fuerant  laudabili  exeroplo  privatim  et  publice, 
simulque  ostendimus  quantopere  servitus  religioni  et  humanae 
dignitati  adversetur.  Equidem  cum  ea  sciiberemus,  vehementer 
commovebamur  eorum  couditione  qui  dominio  subduntur  alieno  ; 
at  multo  acerbius  afiecti  sumus  narratione  aerumneunim,  quibus 
conflictantur  incolae  universi  regionum  quarumdam  Africae  in- 
terioris.  Miserum  sane  et  horrendum  memoratu  est,  quod  certis 
nunciis  accepimus,  fere  quadringenta  Af rorum  millia,nullo  aetatis 
ac  sexuB  discrimine,  quotannis  abripi  per  vim  e  rusticis  pagis, 
unde  catenis  vincti  ac  caesi  verberibus  longo  itinere  trahuntur 
ad  fora,  ubi  pecudum  instar  promercalium  exhibentur  ac  veneunt. 


/ 


u 

— Quae  cum  testata  essent  ob  iis  «jui  viderunfc,  et  a  recentibus 
exploratoribus  Africae  aeqntnoctialis  confirmata,  desiderio  incensi 
suinus  opittilandi  pro  vinbus  miseris  illis,  levandique  eorum- 
calainitatem.  Propterea,  nulla  interji'cta  mora,  dilecto  Filio 
Nostro  Cardinali  Cavolo  Martialt  Lavigeric,  cujus  perspecta  Nobis 
est  alacritas  ac  zelus  Apostolicus,  curaiu  deuiandaviinua  obeundi 
praecipuas  Europae  civitates,  ut  mercatus  hujus  turpissiiiii 
ignoininiam  ostenderet,  et  Principum  civiumquo  aniinos  ad  opem 
t'erendam  aeruninosae  ^enti  iuclinaret. — Quain  ob  rem  gratiae 
Nobis  habendae  sunt  Cbristo  Domino,  gentium  omnium  Re- 
deraptori  amantissimo,  qui  pro  bsaignitatc  sua  passus  non  est 
euras  Nostras  in  irritum  cedere,  sed  voluit  esse  quasi  semen 
feraci  creditum  humo,  quod  laetam  aefgetem  pollicetur.  Naroque 
et  Rectores  populorum  et  Catholici  ex  toto  terrarum  orlie,  omnes 
demum,  quibus  sancta  sunt  gentium  et  naturae  jura,  certarunt 
inquirere,  qua  potissimum  I'atione  et  ope  conniti  praestet,  ut 
inhumanum  illud  *  commercium  evellatur  radieitus.  S<ilemnis 
Conventus  non  ita  pridem  Bruxellis  actus,  quo  Legati  Principum 
Europae  congressi  sunt,  ac  recentior  coetus  privatorum  virorum, 
qui  eodem  spectantes  magno  animo  Lutetiam  convenere,  mani- 
festo portenduut  tanta  vi  et  constantia  Nigritarum  causam 
defensum  iri,  quanta  est  ea  qua  premuntur  aerumnarum  moles.- 
Quare  oblatam  iterum  occasionem  noluraus  omittere,  ut  meritas 
agamus  laudes  et  gratias  Europae  Principibus  ceierisque  bonae 
voluntatis  hominibus,  atque  a  summo  Deo  precamur  enixe,  ut 
eorum  consiliis  et  orsis  tanti  operis  prosperos  dare  velit  eventus. 

At  vero  praeter  tuendae  libertatis  curam,  gravior  alia  pressius 
attingit  apostolicum  ministerium  Nostrum,  quod  Nos  curare 
jubet,  ut  in  Africae  regionibus  propagetur  Evangelii  doctrina, 
quae  illarum  incolas  sedeutos  in  tene:bris,  a  caeca  superstitione 
ofiiisis,  illustret  divinae  veritatis  luce«  perquan  nobif»cum 
fiant  participes  hereditatis  Regni  Dei.  Id  autem  eo 
curamus  enixius,  quod  illi,  hac  luce  recepta,  etiam  humanae 
servitutis  ab  s6  jugum  excutient  Ubi  enim  ohrisliani  inore& 
legesque  vigent,  ubi  religio  sic  homines  instituit^  ut  justitiam 
servent  atque  in  honore  habeant  humanam  dignitatem,  uhi  late 
spiritus  manavit  fratemae  caritatis,  quam  Christus  nos  docuit, 
ibi  neque  servitus,  nee  f eritas,  neque  barbaria  extare  potest ;  sed 
floret  morum  suavitas,  et  civili  ornata  cultu  Christiana  libertas. — 
Plures  jam  Apostolici  viri,  quasi  Ghristi  milites  antesignani 
adiere  regiones  illas.  ibique  ad  fratrum  salutem  non  suoorem 
modo  sed  vitam  ipsam  profuderunt.  Sed  mesaie  quidem  mvMa, 
operarii  autem  pauci  :  que.re  opus  est^  ut  alii  quamplures  eodem 
acti  spiritu  Dei,  nulla  verentes  aiscrimina,  incommoda  et  labores, 
ad  eas  regiones  pergant,  ubi  probrosum  illud  commercium  exer- 


15 

cetur,  allaiuri  illarum  incolis  doctnnani  ChriHii  verae  liliertAti 
conjunctatn.— Verum  tanti  oporis  aggressio  copias  flagitat  ejus 
ainplitudini  pares.  Non  eniiii  sine  inj^^enti  tiuinptu  pruspici 
potest  MiHsionariorum  iustitutioni,  longis  itincribus,  parandis 
aedibus,  teinplis  excitaiuUs  et  instruendis,  aliisque  id  genus 
neccHsariis,  <{uae  quidein  iuipendia  per  aliquot  annos  snstinenda 
erunt,  donee  in  iis  locis  uu?  cons  >derint  evangelii  praecones,  suis 
se  sumptibus  tueri  possint.  Utinam  Nobis  vires  suppeterent 
quibus  possenius  hoc  onus  suscipere.  At  quum  votis  Nostris 
obsistant  graves,  in  quibus  vei-sanmr,  reruni  angustiae,  te, 
Venerabilis  Frater,  aliosque  sacrorum  Antistites  et  Catholicos 
oinnes  patema  voce  coupellannis,  et  Vestrac  corunique  caritati 
conimendamus  opus  tarn  sanctum  et  salutare.  Omnes  enini 
participes  ejus  optamus  iieri,  exigua  licet  coUata  stipe,  lit 
dispartituin  in  piures  onus  levius  cuique  toleratu  sit,  atque  ut 
in  omnes  effundatur  gratia  Christi,  de  cuius  regni  propugnatione 
agitur,  eaque  cunctis  \mcein,  veniam  peccatoruni,  et  lectissiina 
quaeque  munera  impertiat. 

Propterea  constituiinus,  ut  quotannis,  qua  die  in  quibusque 
locLs  Epiphaniae  Domini  celebrantur  mysteria,  in  sub.si<]iuni 
mcmorati  operis  pecunia  stipis  instar  corrogetur.  Hanc  autem 
solemnem  dieiu  prae  ceteris  elegimus  quia,  uti  probe  intelligis 
Venerabilis  Frater,  ea  die  Filius  Dei  primitus  sese  gentibus 
revelavit  dum  Magis  videndum  se  piaebuit,  qui  ideo  a  S.  Leone 
Magno  deccssoro  Nostro  scite  dicti  sunt  vocationia  no8tr(m 
jideique  lyrimitiae.  Itaqne  bona  spe  nitimur  fore,  ut  Christus 
Dominus  permotus  caritate  et  precibus  fiKorum,  qui  veritatis 
lucem  acceperunt,  revelatione  divinitatis  suae  etiam  miserrimam 
illam  hiimani  generis  partem  illustret,  eamque  a  superstitionis 
coeno  et  aerumnosa  conditioue,  in  qua  tamdiu  abjecta  ot  nep|;lecta 
jacetj  eripiat.  '  •dtcit 

Placet  autem  Nobis,  ut  pecunia,  praedicta  die,  collecta  in 
ecclesiis  et  sacellis  subjectis  jurisdictioni  tuae,  Romam  mittatur 
ad  Sacrum  Consilium  Christiano  nomini  propagando.  Hujus  por- 
ro  munus  erit  partiendi  earn  pecuniam  inter  Missiones  quae  ad 
delendam,  potiasivium  servitutem  in  Africae  regionibus  extant 
aut  instituentur :  cujus  partitionis  hie  modus  erit,  ut  pecunia 
profecta  ex  nationibus,  quae  suas  habent  catholicas  missiones  ad 
vindicandos  in  libertatem  servos,  ut  memoravimus,  istis 
missionibus  sustentandis  juvandisque  addicatur.  Reliquam  vero 
stipem  ideini  Sacrum  Consilium,  cui  earumdem  missionum 
necessitates  compertae  sunt,  inter  egentiores  prudenti  judicio 
partietur. 

Equidem  non  ambigimus,  quin  vota  Nostra  pro  infelicibus 
Airis  concepta,  benigne  excipiat  dives  in  raisericordia  Deus.  ac 


'/ 


16 

tu  Vencrabilis  Frater,  ultro  collaturus  sis  studium  operamque 
tuam,  ut  ea  expleantur  cumulate. — Confidimus  insuper,  per  hoc 
temporarium  ac  peculiare  subsidium,  quod  fideles  conferent  ad 
inhumani  commercii  labem  abolendam  et  sustentandos  evanfi^elii 
nuncios  in  locis  ubi  illud  viget,  nihil  iraiuinutum  iri  de  liberali- 
taie  qua  Catholicas  inissiones  adjuvare  solent  cotlata  stipe  in  In- 
stitutum  quod  Lugduni  conditum  a  wofpaaaiione  fidei  nomen 
accepit.  Salutare  hoc  opus,  quod  fidelium  studiis  pridem 
commendavimus,  hac  nunc  opportunitate  oblata  novo  omamus 
laudis  testimonio,  optantes  ut  late  porrigat  beneiicentiam  suatn 
et  lacta  floreat  prosperitate.  Interim  Tibi,  Venerabilis  Frater, 
Clero  et  fidelibus  pastorali  vigilantiae  tuae  commissis,  Apostoli- 
cam  Benedictionem  peramanter  impertimus. 

Datum   Romae  apud  S.    Petrum,    die  XX   Novembris   anno 
MDCCCXC,  Pontilicatus  Nostri  decimo  tertio. 

LEO  PP.  XIII. 


1 


t 


